irritated about everything

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:4-9)

Frustration is the key word of our society. We are irritated about everything.

One of the presidential candidates mentioned that she was a Lutheran and got blasted for not liking the Pope. A pop singer sang a song in a wheelchair and got blasted by a disabilities organization. One of our former presidents said he didn’t like broccoli and got blasted by the broccoli association.

No matter where you turn, you end up “hurting somebody’s feelings.”

Of course, many times, that “hurt” is nothing more than a political ploy or a guilt trip to get you to do what that person wants. But even so, it makes for a frustrated society.

And a frustrated society is not a peaceful one. It can’t be, because the waters are always being churned up by someone with an agenda.

The Christ-follower should have no agenda other than that of Jesus. Romans 13:8 says: Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.

In other words, just do what Jesus wants and the other stuff will take care of itself. Quit trying to get people to do what you want and be at peace.

Rejoice, even when things are not going well. Be gentle in this mean-spirited world. Don’t worry. After all, what can worry accomplish?

Let God know what you need and trust in him to provide it.

And then, fill your hearts and your minds with decent stuff. The more you watch garbage, the more full of garbage you will be. Do things that are helpful, think about things that are good. Read good books. Listen to good music. Talk to good people.

Follow the example of those who love you and want the best for you. Choose to be peaceful. It is a choice you can make if God is truly in your heart.

And choose not to be irritated by what people do. They don’t do what you want? Big deal. They could probably say the same about you.

Then the God of peace will be with you. God bless you.

daily java

Daily Java:

After some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are doing.” Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark. But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work. Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus. Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s gracious care. Then he traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches there.  (Acts 15:36-41)

Both Paul and Barnabas were men full of the Spirit of God. They were both holy men. They both had a command of scriptures that was amazing and both were great teachers. And they both were dominant personalities.

John Mark had come along with them in Acts 13 as an assistant, and then evidently got homesick or something and went home. When Paul and Barnabas were ready to go again in Acts 15, Barnabas wanted to take John Mark again. However, Paul didn’t. He viewed John Mark as an unreliable helper.

The argument got so strong that they split up. Barnabas took John Mark and Paul took a man named Silas. This great dynamic duo of godly men had an argument and split up their partnership.

This did two things.

First, it says that no matter how great the men, no matter how full of the Spirit and the grace of God, people are still people. They have arguments and problems and they deal with them in ways that are sometimes not the best.

Paul was the kind of guy that you either went full bore or you went by yourself. If you were not as fixated as he was, he had no time for you. That is not to say he didn’t love those he preached to. But when he had an assistant, he wanted one he could depend on and he had no time for undependable people.

Rather than take an undependable person with him, he split up a great evangelistic team.

Barnabas, on the other hand, was willing to take the gamble. After all, it was he who went and got the unknown Saul and brought him along. They were Barnabas and Saul, then Barnabas and Paul, now Paul and Barnabas. Barnabas evidently didn’t mind his pupil becoming the leader. He was a good man who tried to help others. And because of him, Paul the apostle was a perful teacher.

Nobody is perfect, not even the great apostle Paul. He figured it out later, though. In 2 Timothy 4:11, he says: Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry. I don’t know who grew, Paul or Mark. But whatever went on, sooner or later, Paul recognized John Mark’s value.

Second, sometimes God works through odd ways. Instead of one group going one place, now there were two groups of dynamic evangelists.

When Paul and Barnabas split up, each going his own way, it made two groups preaching the gospel. And twice as much was getting done.

Good things can come from bad things if God is at work in them.